Norfolk, Virginia (CNN) –In a late campaign push to change the battleground map, Mitt Romney will travel to Pennsylvania on Sunday in the hopes of capturing the traditionally Democratic-leaning state. A Romney campaign official confirmed to CNN the GOP nominee will stop in the Philadelphia area Sunday afternoon.

The Pennsylvania event falls into the Romney campaign's newly adopted strategy of expanding the battleground map in the final week of the race. Top strategists to the GOP nominee targeted Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota this week for potential gains, pointing to polls in the states that show Romney gaining on the President.

Romney's campaign began purchasing air time in the state this week–a move that was countered by Obama's team. The campaign also announced Rep. Paul Ryan, Romney's running mate, will be traveling to Middletown, Pennsylvania on Saturday.

The Obama campaign immediately scoffed at Romney's Pennsylvania trip as an "act of desperation."

"Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are going all in Pennsylvania, following the lead of every Republican presidential candidate since 1992 who have made last ditch investments in the Keystone State. Not one of them carried the state," Obama campaign northeast regional press secretary Michael Czin said in a statement.

"We are looking at an expanded map, while the Obama campaign is pouring resources into states that were supposed to be safe for them," a Romney campaign official said.

"I totally understand why Chicago is freaking out, but I just thought they'd be better at hiding it," the official added.

In the final days before the 2008 election, then GOP nominee John McCain and his running mate, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin made campaign stops in Pennsylvania with similar hopes but to no avail.

In a strategy memo, Romney campaign officials referred to recent comments made by former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell who said Democrats could let down their guards in the state, opening up the possibility of a "startling upset."

Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, a Romney surrogate, predicted the GOP nominee would win the state in an interview on Fox News Thursday.

Romney's upcoming visit to Pennsylvania was first reported by The Daily.

soundoff(487 Responses)

Elda B

I am happy they are trying everything they can, Hope with all my heart the people sees further than color, smiles and words, this man can do a lot more for USA than in 4 years Obama did, I know that Obama was to exited with his Obama care and all that, but he EVEN DID NOT TRY anything really convenient for Our country, we are not better off, we need something fresh and new that is able to fix the numbers like he did in all his previous business , I hope people and over all woman can see than not all of Us are going to be raped or need free abortions, we are more than walking uterus we are PEOPLE that care about economy and far more important things in life . :)

November 1, 2012 09:51 pm at 9:51 pm |

Joe

Get ready as Fox News is positioning Romney's loss due to voter fraud. 1. The polls in the past few days have shown Obama reclaiming leads in the swing states, but if you watched Fox today they're saying swing states slipping from Obama. 2. Fox did an interview with some lady today who said when she voted in Ohio and pressed the buttion for Romney it kept switching to Obama and then they went on about could the machines really be rigged. Fox News and many of the extremists blogs are saying the same things as fox today, so I believe they all know Romney is most likely going to lose this thing, but they're setting it up as like its going to be some suprise and it must be voter fraud. I believe in free speech, but Fox News and its all out lies is hurting this country in such a way that this country will erupt in riots and its going to happen simply because so many people have allowed themselves to be manipulated by the terroist machine Fox News. How does a country force a news outlet OUT?

November 1, 2012 09:51 pm at 9:51 pm |

Pete/Ark

Y' know what ? ...If we got rid of the elitist thing called the "Electoral College", it wouldn't matter which powerful "swing state" they went to ... ain't it time that every vote counted EQUALLY ?

November 1, 2012 09:52 pm at 9:52 pm |

Dennis

I t5hink the polling shows just how close this race is. It also shows that Romney does have a chance here. BHO is pretty unpopular in the Pittsburgh area as well as outstate.

November 1, 2012 09:53 pm at 9:53 pm |

Alex Henry

Even Rasmussen has Obama up by 5. Romney can't possibly think that showing his face in a liberal stronghold like Philadelphia is going to turn the state in his favor. Much more likely is that the Romney/Ryan campaign is trying to get Obama to invest voter outreach resources in PA when they're badly needed in OH, WI, and VA.

November 1, 2012 09:54 pm at 9:54 pm |

Obamaless

Well, after all the hoopla photo ops with the press in post-Sandy arenas, and the Air Force One grand tour today out to Nevada, this trip to PA sort of seems like little news, huh? Maybe if Leftist CNN did some reporting on the Bengazi fiasco and Clinton's Hillaristic handling of it, things would change? Not..

November 1, 2012 09:55 pm at 9:55 pm |

james

Romney will not carry the state; Obama's response with Sandy, the praise from the Republican govenor of NJ and mayor of NYC will resonate in the state. And of course, people are not just voting for Romney, they are voting for ultra rightists from the deep south, utah, the square states, that do not have much affinity with the keystone state.

I just don't see Romney winning PA. He does have a better chance than McCain did when he tried this in 08...... but, still. Its not going to happen. He has a better chance winning Ohio. Shouldn't that be the strategy? Ohio or bust?

November 1, 2012 09:57 pm at 9:57 pm |

Don

Romney must be insane. PA will not vote for GOP, at least not this time.

November 1, 2012 09:57 pm at 9:57 pm |

teatbag

Hail Mary, I need you.
Love, Your Bishop Romney.

November 1, 2012 09:58 pm at 9:58 pm |

btlprod

To listen to the Democrats and CNN, Pennsylvania was always in play. After all wasn't that the big complaint about the Voter ID laws? Some Republican State senator claimed it would give the state to Romney?

November 1, 2012 09:58 pm at 9:58 pm |

noly972

The really sad thing is that Ann will be disappointed; she wanted to be The First Lady so very much.

Obama/Biden 2012! Sweep the GOtP from Congress!!

November 1, 2012 09:58 pm at 9:58 pm |

Marley

The UAW has filed a lawsuit against Mormon Bishop Mittens for ethics and conflict of interest.

Google: Mitt Romney Federal Bailout bananza

Mitten's has profited over 100+ MILLION from the auto bailout by blackmailing the US gov't, GM, and Chrysler.

Mitten's and his VULTURE CAPITALIST buddies bought Delphi during the recession and threatened to shut it all down if the US gov't, GM, and Chrysler did not pay them more for the parts. Disgusting!

November 1, 2012 09:59 pm at 9:59 pm |

Paul

We in Pennsylvania don't welcome a visit from you, Bishop Willard, Liar for the Lord.

November 1, 2012 09:59 pm at 9:59 pm |

Solitaire

Fox News. Pffft! Preaching to the choir what the want to hear. PA is smarter than Romney.

November 1, 2012 10:01 pm at 10:01 pm |

DrIncognitus

If Romney is spending valuable time in PA, he is basically admitting that he's losing.

November 1, 2012 10:03 pm at 10:03 pm |

Ann

Romney has run an honorable campaign, staying away from petty issues and disrespectful talks unlike Obama. Hats off to Romney!!

November 1, 2012 10:04 pm at 10:04 pm |

Pennsylvania 4EVER

LOL this is hilarious. I am not voting for Romney and no one I know around here (Pennsylvania) is voting Romney, so he can waste his time here all he wants.

OBAMA 2012!!!!!

November 1, 2012 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |

Ken

I think this is a wise move. Several polls have shown Obama's lead over Romney in MN, MI, and PA has shrunk to the low single digits. The only thing not moving these states to "in play" instead of "lean Obama" is the news agencies only do that once their poll of polls are within the statical error for a set amount of time. And with the election only 5 days away, that's not enough time to reclassify them. Still, one poll in MN showed Obama leading by only 3%, and another for PA showed 4%. Considering a good 15% in each state say they are leaning one way or another but aren't locked in place, the chance for some ads to cause some movement is worth the investment.

November 1, 2012 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |

JohnReedjr

He's grasping at straws, and knows he's less than a footnote to history.

November 1, 2012 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |

tries

Tries?

Hey LIberal spin media – he's BEEN WINNING in PA!

Man you guys... only fooling yourselves.

November 1, 2012 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |

AnnRomney

The classic desperation move. At least he's not going to California.

November 1, 2012 10:08 pm at 10:08 pm |

Nick

Some thing is not right here. Romney's chances in PA are very slim. Looks to me like a act of desperation rather than an attempt to expand the battle ground map. Maybe they feel OH is slipping out.

November 1, 2012 10:09 pm at 10:09 pm |

Mark H

24 year old EE student Romney has my vote in PA!!!

November 1, 2012 10:09 pm at 10:09 pm |

Jeb

Romney left office as governor with a 34% approval rating.

Romney was 47th out of 50 governors in job creation.

In this election, he's doing so badly in his home state, he doesn't even bother campaigning there.